Yale Smart Alarm Starter Kit L in the test: Protection for your home

The renowned security technology group Assa Abloy is behind Yale – and you can feel that immediately with the starter kit L for 350 euros. It includes a hub, a door/window contact, a motion detector, a keypad and a key remote control. The components are slightly larger than many other smart home systems, but that immediately conveys the message that this is reliable, high-quality security technology and not a toy.

Well thought-out protection down to the last detail

Accordingly, the components have well thought-out safety featureswhich smart home products often lack. The hub has an emergency battery that is supposed to last for 12 hours even in the event of a power failure – so short-circuiting the power won’t help burglars. In addition, the integrated siren with 100 decibels scares you.

For the Smartphone connection The hub can be connected to the router either via LAN or WLAN. Communication with the components takes place in the 868 MHz band. This low frequency not only guarantees a greater range than WiFi, but also avoids annoying interference with microwaves or routers. In average apartments and single-family homes, the hub should easily reach all sensors if it is placed centrally.

Flexible installation for maximum security

The one supplied Door-window contact can be attached to any window in the house. It consists of two elements that are mounted opposite each other on the window sash and frame. The included screws or double-sided adhesive tape can be used for installation. So nothing stands in the way of installation in a rented apartment.

The same flexibility is allowed motion detector. With its 12 meter radius, it monitors even large spaces. Pet owners will appreciate the special pet mode, which prevents small to medium-sized four-legged friends from setting off false alarms.

This is for the daily control of the system Keypad the first point of contact. You can deactivate the alarm system or arm the “on the go” or “at home” mode using a six-digit PIN. The ideal place for the keypad is indoors next to the pet. This means residents can quickly operate the security system when coming and going.

As a mobile control option, the Key fob included in the starter kit. It can be attached to a key chain and controls the alarm system at the push of a button.

Effortless setup with a well-thought-out app

Setting up the entire alarm system is easy using the Yale Home app. We only had problems finding the QR code on the hub at the beginning. To access it, it is necessary to remove the holder or cover. From then on everything goes smoothly. By scanning the QR code, the app knows which device we want to learn and then guides us step by step through the installation. Helpful: The explanations are illustrated with videos, so we didn’t have any further questions.

The fine-tuning will then be carried out. We can use the sensors up to four security areas assign and determine whether they want to be active in home and on the go mode. The preset configuration proves to be practical. The motion detector pauses in home mode so that residents can continue to stay inside the house. The door/window contact, on the other hand, is active in both modes. To ensure everything is safe when you leave, the app also alerts you if windows or doors are still open.

One False alarms To prevent this, the adjustable entry delay gives you 30 seconds as standard to switch off the alarm system after you get home. The exit delay allows you to leave the house in a relaxed manner before an alarm goes off. Particularly practical: The geofencing function reminds you to arm when you leave the house and warns you to deactivate the alarm when you come home.

Comprehensive protection with expansion potential

There are many other setting options in the app. For example, whether you are at Loss of connection of individual components should be alerted, or in the event of sabotage attempts or radio interference. This means that it is of no use to burglars trying to disable the security system using a jammer.

Yale offers subscriptions for even more protection. For 6 euros per month, the security system can still send alarm messages if the Internet goes down. The subscription unlocks the mobile phone option.

There are many expansion options for expanding into a fully comprehensive security system. Up to 100 components can be trained on the hub. The selection ranges from vibration sensors and sirens to smart locks and surveillance cameras. It is also possible to connect to smart home solutions such as Amazon Alexa, Google Home or Philips Hue – the only thing missing is support for the new Matter smart home super standard.